脚印 (jiǎo yìn) — footprint | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A footprint — the physical mark left where a foot stepped. 足迹 is a more formal written synonym; 踪迹 is broader 'tracks/traces' of any movement.

noun

footprint

Measure word · 个

脚印。
Shā tān shàng liú xià le hěn duō jiǎo yìn.
Many footprints were left on the beach.
脚印。
Tā yán zhe jiǎo yìn zhǎo dào le shī zōng de gǒu.
He followed the footprints and found the missing dog.
脚印。
Zhè xiē jiǎo yìn kàn qǐ lái xiàng shì yí gè hái zi liú xià de.
These footprints look like they were left by a child.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

脚 is the foot and 印 a mark, so the meaning is a mark left by a foot.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 腳; 脚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat, body

Sound part声符shēngfú

卻

卻què腳jiǎo

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 腳 uses ⺼ for a body part and 卻 for the sound; the simplified 脚 is a later shorthand.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

印 pairs 爪 (hand) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on a kneeling person.

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